2012 Safe at Home Event Makes Starke County Safer

Posted on Author WKVI
David Hyatt installs smoke detector in a home in Starke County

Fifty volunteers spread out across Starke County this weekend during the first Safe at Home event, sponsored by Northwest Indiana Community Action, Community Services of Starke County, and IU Health Starke Hospital. The volunteers traveled to 14 homes where the occupants were in need of some help with home repair and yard work, including ramp repairs, handrail and grab-bar installation, smoke detectors testing and installation, and various yard work.

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers and North Judson Town Board President Wendy Hoppe also assisted in the endeavor, and IU Health Starke Hospital President and CEO David Hyatt said he was overjoyed to see so many of his colleagues donating their precious time for such a worthwhile cause. He said making Starke County a safer place is at the core of the hospital’s mission statement.

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Giant Pumpkin Weigh-in at Hensler Nursery

Posted on Author WKVI
John Barenie and his 1,233 pound pumpkin!

The winner of the 2012 Giant Pumpkin Contest at Hensler Nursery is John Barenie from Griffith, IN with his contest-winning 1,233 pound pumpkin. John had a clean pumpkin sweep this summer winning his local Lake County Fair, the Indiana State Fair and the Indiana Pumpkin Growers Association contest hosted at Hensler Nursery. Barenie still holds the record for largest pumpkin grown in Indiana with his 1,308 pound pumpkin which won the recognition at the Grower Association contest hosted at Hensler Nursery in 2011. In 2011, Barenie began his string of victories winning first at the Indiana State Fair, and then at the Hensler contest.

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Wythogan Park Still Undergoing Repairs

Posted on Author WKVI

Though the park is open, work is still being done to restore Wythogan Park in Knox to its former glory. Park Superintendent George Byer said the majority of stumps and trees have been removed, but approximately 50 stumps that were uprooted by the storms still need to be taken out.

Byer said these stumps will be split between the street department and a contractor, with each taking 25 stumps from the park. The park board is still waiting on bids to come in for the stump removal, and Byer said once they’ve received all the bids and chosen the best contractor for the job, the first 25 stumps will be removed by the contractor. The remaining stumps will then be handled by the street department as quickly as time allows.

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Decision Expected Soon On Tree Removal Near Washington Twp. School

Posted on Author WKVI
Superintendent A.J. Gappa

Washington Township Trustee Shelly Kemble appeared before the Knox Community School Board last week to discuss the demolition of the old Washington Township School. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said Kemble relayed plans on how they are going to move forward with the project.

Kemble also asked the board’s permission to cut down some trees on the property east of the building.

“The idea there is to try and get some money to help pay for a demolition,” stated Gappa.

Gappa says the school board is expected to act on that request at the next board meeting on Monday, Oct. 15.

Knox’s No-Burn Ordinance Still In Effect

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers

A no-burn ordinance remains in effect in the city of Knox.

Mayor Rick Chambers is urging residents to follow this ordinance and not burn leaves or other brush and debris within the city limits.

If you need to be rid of leaves in your yard, the street department will be picking up leaves each day beginning tomorrow. You can rake the leaves to the street along the side for pick up. Do not pile the leaves in the alley. Do not bag the leaves, and remove all trash and other debris from the pile.

You are also welcome to take grass clippings or leaves to the compost drop-off behind City Hall.

WKVI Corrects Harold Welter School Board Reports

Posted on Author WKVI

On Sept. 5 and 10 of this year, news stories were aired on WKVI and posted on wkvi.com concerning the Knox Community School Board race and candidate Harold Welter in particular. It has since been learned that certain parts of those stories were inaccurate. In the story from Sept. 5, entitled, “Harold Welter withdraws Knox School Board candidacy,” a description of FCC guidelines concerning equal time was given, along with how they relate to the local school board race and a description of the waiver of equal time opportunities which would allow Welter to continue his duties as a sports announcer through the election season.

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West Central School Board Discusses State Grade

Posted on Author WKVI
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

The West Central School Board dissected the preliminary grades given to the corporation by the state. Superintendent Charles Mellon said the way corporations are evaluated has changed. As part of the former Adequate Yearly Progress requirement, high performance schools were assessed as an Exemplary School where severe under-performing schools were classified as being placed on Academic Probation. Now, Mellon says, the corporations are given a letter grade based on certain statistics.

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Voter Registration Deadline Is Tomorrow; Absentee Voting Begins Today

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski and Pulaski County Clerk Tasha Foerg urge Hoosiers to register to vote in the Nov. 6 General Election. The last day to register is tomorrow!

You can register by going online to www.IndianaVoters.com or by visiting your county clerk’s office. If you do not register to vote, you cannot cast a ballot in this important presidential election. You have until 4 p.m. tomorrow to register, and many government offices may be closed due to the Columbus Day holiday today.

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Relay for Life Already Gearing Up For Next Year’s Event

Posted on Author WKVI

Fundraising is already underway for next year’s Relay for Life event with this year’s theme of “Colors of Cancer.”

Meghan Hamand of Relay for Life said each team will display a different color representing a form of cancer – pink, for example, to represent breast cancer – in all different shapes, sizes and forms, and each will also provide information about their particular type of cancer. Hamand said her team chose gold to represent childhood cancer, and they will be taking it “to the extreme,” with plans to embellish their team like the Olympics with gold medals and other decorations.

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New Indiana Laws Aim to Help Ex-Offenders Find Work

Posted on Author WKVI

In an effort to make it easier for ex-offenders to find employment, two significant changes were made to state laws last July allowing non-violent offenders to have their criminal records sealed. On top of that, the changes give the courts the power to convert a Class D felony conviction to a Class A misdemeanor upon petition.

Executive Director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission Jamal L. Smith said it’s important to share information on newly-passed laws to ensure everyone has a clear understanding of their rights. He said they are emphasizing these laws specifically because they have gone relatively unnoticed.

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North Judson Working To Become ADA Compliant

Posted on Author WKVI
Doug Vessely
North Judson Town Marshal Doug Vessely

North Judson is continuing its efforts to become compliant with regulations from the Americans with Disabilities Act. Town Marshal and ADA Coordinator Doug Vessely said he has been looking at city-owned buildings and has identified a few that are in need of additional handicapped parking spots and sidewalk ramps.

Vessely explained that he is currently drafting the ADA compliance plan which he will then put into writing and submit to the state with a timeline and financial information, such as how to pay for the changes laid out over a two to three year period. Fortunately, the town shouldn’t have too many buildings that need modified as Vessely said many of them are already up to ADA code.

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Culver School Board Updates Policies to Comply With State

Posted on Author WKVI
Culver Community School Superintendent, Brad Schuldt

The Culver Community School Board made a number of changes to its board policies with the help of Neola, the board’s policy company.

Superintendent Brad Schuldt said they changed approximately 25 policies, and many of them were minor typographical changes. However, he said a number of changes the board made to their policies were done to reflect new laws passed last year to ensure they are still in compliance with state law.

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West Central School Board Approves 2013 Budget

Posted on Author WKVI
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

The West Central School Board approved the 2013 budget during their meeting this week, according to Superintendent Charles Mellon.

“This is the time of year we have to approve the 2013 budget as well as the Capital Projects and Bus Replacement Plan,” stated Mellon. “We also approved our Technology Plan which has to go along with the Capital Projects Plan as far as the state is concerned.”

The board also took another look at the ADM count which showed an enrollment loss and the board looked at the numbers coming in from the wind turbine. The turbine has been in operation for nearly six months and the operation seems to be working to the benefit of the corporation.

Pulaski County Junior Achievement Brings Professionals to Class

Posted on Author WKVI

With summer closed and fall just beginning, kids are back in school throughout Indiana, but they’re not alone in their return as businessmen and women are volunteering their time to present Junior Achievement of Pulaski County programs to local students. JA volunteers are instrumental in bringing Junior Achievement to life through sharing their personal and professional experiences with students. Combined with Junior Achievement’s age-appropriate curricula, students are able to connect what they learn in school with what they will need to succeed in both work and life.

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House Republicans Release Agenda, “Own Your American Dream”

Posted on Author WKVI

Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives Brian C. Bosma, alongside a dozen of his House Republican colleagues, announced that House Republican Agenda this week. The agenda focuses on making Indiana stronger state for future generations on three key concepts: financial security for future generations, bridging the skills gap, and providing support to classroom teachers.

Bosma said every parent hopes for their children to be better off than their own generation, but for the first time in history, the majority of Americans believe that the next generation will not enjoy a quality of life better than their parents.

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State Releases September Revenue Report

Posted on Author WKVI

The State Budget Agency released the monthly revenue report for September 2012 tax collections, with revenues totaling $1.424 billion. This is $23 million above target and $90 million above collections for the same period last year.

Through the month, state general fund revenues increased 5.2 percent–more than double the rate needed to meet the most recent forecast. Total general fund revenues are now $51 million ahead of forecast through the first quarter of the fiscal year.

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Week in Review for Oct. 1-5, 2012

Posted on Author WKVI

Here is a look at some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:

Pulaski County Sheriff's Department

If you would like to see the jail list at the Pulaski County Jail, you will be able to access that on the jail’s website in the next couple of weeks. Jail Commander Phil Cherry said it will be easier for you to see bond amounts if you need to bond someone out of the jail and if a person has been arrested in a criminal case you have filed with the Sheriff’s Department. Check pulaskisheriff.net for that feature to be uploaded soon. Cherry also said new visitation video equipment has been installed which will allow those unable to get to get the jail a chance to visit with inmates. Continue reading →